GERMANY has been changing a lot since the unification in 1990. Berlin can be seen as the unique chrystallisation point of this dynamic process. The vacuum of the former border in the middle of town provides space for the new city centre of Berlin. But also other cities in former East-Germany, such as Dresden and Leipzig, have experienced a metamorphosis during the last couple of years. This move towards a new self-esteem is represented by a wide variety of new developments in architecture.

In the upper north, Hamburg evaluates and redefines its position as Germany´s second town and mayor port city. Old industrial sites and former harbour areas are converted for commercial and residential use. But also existing city structures move into the focus of architects and urban planners. From small urban infills to large scale urban renewal a broad diversity of architecture projects have been carried out. In the Ruhr Area, one of the largest industrial regions in the world, old cole mines and steel factories are turned into new types of landscape parks, leisure facilities and business centres.

We invite you on an architecture tour through Germany: Hamburg - port city with ambitious water front projects, Berlin - dynamic east-west-symbiosis, the Ruhr Area - an industrial region reinvents itself, Dresden - city of contrast and different epochs, just to mention a few interesting spots.